Read Online Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of The Phantom of The Opera by Colette Gale - Free Book Online

refrained from speaking. “Salary? Box Five? What is this?” He appeared to have no problems looking her in the eye now that the subject of finances had been broached.
    “It is very simple. The Opera Ghost wishes to have his monthly salary paid, which, for this month, you owe him approximately twenty-three thousand francs. Debienne and Poligny did pay him for the first ten days, as I believe he noted.
    “The Opera Ghost also insists that you continue to keep Box Five—you know it, the one just next to the stage—available for him at all times. He was quite annoyed last evening when he attempted to enter the box and learned that you had let it out. In turn, he will keep his end of the bargain by keeping out of your way. In other words, you will need to continue the contract he had with the previous managers in order to be left in peace, which, I must say, he sorely wishes to do.”
    “We cannot—twenty-four thousand francs? Box Five? We cannot afford to do that!” Armand sputtered.
    “But I do not see how you cannot,” Madame Giry told him gently. She really was looking forward to getting him out of those trousers. He was no more substantial than a plump teddy bear—even with all of his bluff and bluster. She could not hold back a smile at the thought. Perhaps…
    “Shall I take you to see Box Five?” she asked. Erik would not mind; he normally did not come up from his underground lair during the morning hours. Madame Giry slipped her arm under Armand’s and gently but firmly turned him in the proper direction.She was taller than he was, helped by the heels of her shoes and also genetics, and the top of his head came just to her chin. That would be a lovely change, to have a man with such easy access to her very sensitive breasts. Perhaps, in order to give the poor man some warning of the delights to come, she would endeavor to trip and stumble against him when they walked down the steps from the managers’ offices, where they were now, to the foyer of the Opera House.
    After all, she had not obtained the coveted position of the Opera House’s ballet mistress by being shy and retiring. Indeed, she had been a magnificent dancer in her day and perhaps could have gone on to be as renowned as La Sorelli if not for the unfortunate injury to her left ankle fifteen years ago.
    She could still dance, of course, but her ankle could not hold her weight as well, and Maude would do nothing if she could not do it perfectly. Thus, partly because of her talent and her reputation for hard work and perfection, and partly because she had grown up helping her mother at the ballet school, she was able to attain the position as the ballet mistress at the conservatoire. And when the Opera House was inaugurated a decade ago, Maude brought some of her rats with her to the new theater. Of course, it had not hurt that she had demonstrated her other…skills to the messieurs Debienne and Poligny for years. They had had quite a comfortable arrangement.
    “I am quite certain I know which one is Box Five. It is the one that has always been reserved by Debienne and Poligny,” Armand replied, but he did not sound convinced. Perhaps it was the massive shelf of her jutting breasts that had distracted him. But, no, to Maude’s annoyance, he was back on another topic almost immediately. “And what is this about Christine Daaé? I can barely read the creature’s writing.”
    “Miss Daaé is the Opera Ghost’s protégée, and he merely
suggests
”—she put gentle emphasis on that word—“that she be afforded the same types of roles and attention as La Carlotta has had. In fact, that was why he was particularly annoyed that his box was occupied last night. He wished to see her debut performance.”
    “Miss Daaé, his protégée?” Armand repeated as Maude steered him down the wide sweep of marble steps that led to the main salon of the Opera House.
    “Of course. The ghost is quite a musical genius, and he has been tutoring her for the